Tag: <span>gene-activated matrices</span>

The non-viral introduction of genes into mammalian cells (transfection) is of growing interest for tissue engineering and as an alternative to the use of viral transfer of recombinant genes. The introduction of a foreign gene into cells in vivo is often limited to the use of viral vectors such as adeno or retroviruses. Viral vector may present several disadvantages or side effects that can be disastrous, and the selection of cells that are transduced by the virus is very poor. A number of non-viral vectors have been explored and used to date: lipid-based carriers, hydrogel polymers, polycationic lipids, polylysine, polyornithine, histones, and other chromosomal proteins, such as hydrogen polymers and precipitated calcium phosphate. Most of these vectors are usable in vitro but are difficult to apply in vivo, especially when local transfection to a specific cell line must be obtained…